Florida Inshore Fishing Regulations 2026 — Complete Size & Bag Limit Guide

Red drum must measure between 18 and 27 inches total length to be kept. Fish below 18 inches are undersized juveniles; fish over 27 inches are protected brood stock. Florida’s slot limit was established in the late 1980s after the blackened redfish craze devastated populations, and the recovery has been remarkable. Redfish are available year-round in Florida waters with no seasonal closure. A standard Florida saltwater fishing license is required.

Note that the one-fish-per-person daily bag limit is strictly enforced. Possession limits follow the same rule. For-hire vessels and charter boats are subject to the same per-angler limits, not a pooled vessel limit.

Spotted seatrout, also called speckled trout or specks, are one of the most popular inshore targets in Florida. The 2026 regulation sets a minimum size of 15 inches and a hard maximum of 19 inches total length. Daily bag limit is 3 fish per angler. Fish over 19 inches are protected trophy fish that represent the most reproductively valuable members of the population.

Seatrout are sensitive to cold water events and FWC monitors population health closely. Northeast and Northwest Florida may have region-specific rules — always check myfwc.com for the zone-specific regulations that apply to your fishing location.

Snook regulations are among the most complex in Florida because closure seasons differ between the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. On the Atlantic coast (including Northeast Florida and the east coast of the peninsula), snook are closed during December, January, and the month of May. Gulf coast closure dates differ — verify current status at myfwc.com before targeting snook.

In addition to a standard saltwater fishing license, you must have a Snook Permit (approximately $10 per year) to harvest snook legally. Catch-and-release snook fishing is permitted during closed seasons. Snook are extremely sensitive to cold temperatures, and FWC has issued emergency closures following cold kill events in past years.

Southern flounder must measure at least 12 inches total length to be legally harvested. The daily bag limit is 10 fish. Flounder season is closed statewide in November and December to protect fish during their annual offshore spawning migration. This closure has been critical to stabilizing what was a declining population in the 1990s and 2000s.

Gigging for flounder at night is a popular and legal practice during the open season. Flounder are most commonly found on sandy or muddy bottom near channel edges, dock pilings, and creek mouths. The fall pre-closure period in October produces excellent flounder fishing as fish fatten up before their offshore migration.

Sheepshead have a generous bag limit and no seasonal closure, making them a reliable option year-round. They are most concentrated around structure — bridge pilings, dock legs, jetty rocks, and oyster bars — where they feed on barnacles, mussels, and crustaceans. Small fiddler crabs or live shrimp fished tight to structure on light tackle is the most productive approach. Sheepshead have hard crushing teeth and can be tricky to hook — a brief pause before setting the hook helps.

Florida pompano are one of the finest table fish in the state and command premium prices at seafood markets. Minimum size is 11 inches fork length with a daily bag limit of 6 fish. Pompano are most commonly caught in the surf, near inlets, and on shallow sandbars and grass flat edges. They feed primarily on sand fleas (mole crabs), small shrimp, and coquina clams. Pompano runs through Northeast Florida typically peak in spring and fall as fish migrate along the coast.

Spanish mackerel are measured to fork length, not total length. The 12-inch minimum and 15-fish daily bag limit applies in Florida state waters. Federal regulations in offshore waters differ and may have a lower bag limit. Spanish mackerel are typically a bonus species for inshore anglers targeting trout and redfish, but dedicated mackerel fishing along beaches and near inlets with small silver spoons or live finger mullet can produce limits quickly during peak migration runs.